Study of soil macrofauna in relation with some of selected soil physio- chemical properties at sumayar-nagar in district Hunza-Nagar Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2014
Introduction
Soil is the essential natural means for bionetwork and
biosphere route. Soil and sediments are helpful in
regulation of ecosystem (Freckman, 1996).
Macrofauna are those species having the size above 2
mm (Thomas et al., 1993; Swift and Anderson, 1993)
helps in mixing of organic matters and changes the
chemical and physical state of soil. Soil invertebrates
are affected or flourished by human activities (Lavelle
et al., 1994). Ants, termites, and aranea are directly
affected by agriculture (Mathieu et al., 2005). The
inhabitants of macrofauna were exaggerated by a
variety of nature of residue breakdown and plant
residue (Tian et al., 1993). In moderate and humid
ecosystem macro invertebrates are predicted as
significant regulator (Lavelle et al., 2006; Jenkinson
and Ladd, 1981). Soil fertility enhance when these
fauna makes their association with fungi or
decomposers (Lavelle et al., 1997). Beside with the
soil organisms, earthworms acting key role in
chemical and physical independence of soil (Aina,
1984; Edwards and Bohlen, 1996; Abdul Rida and
bouché, 1997). Beetles and other species are favoured
by climatic conditions (Coulson et al., 1999;
Wichmann and Ravn, 2001; Eriksson et al., 2005;
Gilbert et al., 2005). The movement of nutrients is
due to oligocheates (Anderson et al., 1983). Beare et
al., (1997) stated that due to continuous cultivation of
same crop and application of nutrients changes the
soli fauna.
in summer is 15-20 0 C while in winter it is -5 to -10 0 C.
Sampling was carried out in October 2011.
Agriculture soil was sampled. Whole Sumayar-Nagar
was divided into 9 areas. Then further each area was
divided into 6 clusters. For macrofaunal sampling
total 54 soil pits were dug out. The characterization
and identification of macro fauna are totally
depending on their body size describe by Blair et al.,
1996 and Anderson and Ingram in 1993.75% alcohol
and 4% formalin is used for preservation of
organisms, took them in lab for identification only at
order level. Organisms were identified and calculated
their abundance. For macrofauna sampling we have
used quadrate size 25*25cm and dugout till 15cm
depth. Carefully dugout soil till depth of 15cm with
the help of troval and spade and spread the soil in the
tray and handpicked all the visible macrofauna and
preserved them in 75% alcohol and 4% formalin (for
earthworm). For determination of soil moisture 5
grams of soil were taken and kept in plastic bag. Extra
set of soil samples were also taken to laboratory for
determination of soil pH. Gravimetric method was
used for determined of soil moisture by drying soil
samples at 105°C for 24 hours. Soil moisture content
was calculated as follows:
Moisture content % = (weight of moist soil-weight of
oven dried soil) / (weight of oven dried in
grams)*100.
The aims and objectives of the study are to investigate
the abundance, variety or diversity and community
composition of macrofauna in agricultural soils in
Nagar-Sumayar in Hunza-Nagar district of Gilgit-
Baltistan. Beside soil macrofauna some of the selected
physico-chemical properties of the soil were also
investigated.
Materials and methods
Description of study site
Whole study was carried at Sumayar Nagar; district
Hunza-Nagar, Gilgit Baltistan. Elevation of Sumayar-
Nagar valley is approx 2251m. Maximum temperature
Before analysis pH, soil samples were air dried and
sieved it using 2mm sieve. Soil pH was measured
using pH probe with glass-calomel electrode and 1:1
soil: water ratio (Mc Lean., 1982). GPS was used to
determine the elevation of the area and clusters. Data
was analyzed by using SPSS-16.0 and MS Excel
software. One way ANOVA was performed to
determine the significance difference of soil
macrofauna abundance among various clusters.
Pearson’s correlation was applied to determine the
relationship among various investigated parameter.
125 | Begum et al.